Methods and apparatus to exchange linkage information associated with clinical items

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to exchange linkage information associated with clinical items are disclosed. An example method for use with a healthcare information system includes detecting a patient transfer associated with a patient from a first healthcare entity to a second healthcare entity; obtaining linkage information indicative of a relationship between a clinical item of treatment associated with the patient and a medical issue of the patient; transferring the linkage information to the second healthcare entity in response to the detected patient transfer; enabling a healthcare practitioner associated with the second healthcare entity to view the linkage information such that the relationship is visually conveyed to the healthcare practitioner; and enabling the healthcare practitioner to accept the medical issue of the patient to initiate an automatic reconciliation process.

1 . A computer implemented method for use with a healthcare information system, comprising:
 detecting a patient transfer associated with a patient from a first healthcare entity to a second healthcare entity;   obtaining linkage information indicative of a relationship between a clinical item of treatment associated with the patient and a medical issue of the patient;   transferring the linkage information to the second healthcare entity in response to the detected patient transfer;   enabling a healthcare practitioner associated with the second healthcare entity to view the linkage information such that the relationship is visually conveyed to the healthcare practitioner; and   enabling the healthcare practitioner to accept the medical issue of the patient to initiate an automatic reconciliation process.   
     
     
         2 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein enabling the healthcare practitioner to view the linkage information comprising integrating the linkage information into a user interface to be presented to the healthcare practitioner. 
     
     
         3 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises a first indication of the medical issue and a second indication of the clinical item, and wherein the first indication and the second indication are visually tied together. 
     
     
         4 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining data associated with the clinical item when the healthcare practitioner accepts the medical issue. 
     
     
         5 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising transferring a patient status with the linkage information, and wherein the patient status determines whether aspects of the reconciliation process are performed automatically or in response to a user instruction. 
     
     
         6 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the clinical item comprises one of a prescription, a procedure, a lab result, and a report associated with the medical issue. 
     
     
         7 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the linkage information at the second healthcare entity and integrating the linkage information into user interface to be displayed to the healthcare practitioner. 
     
     
         8 . A computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein detecting the patient transfer comprises receiving data from an outpatient administrative system. 
     
     
         9 . A tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 detect a patient transfer associated with a patient from a first healthcare entity to a second healthcare entity;   obtain linkage information indicative of a relationship between a clinical item of treatment associated with the patient and a medical issue of the patient;   transfer the linkage information to the second healthcare entity in response to the detected patient transfer;   enable a healthcare practitioner associated with the second healthcare entity to view the linkage information such that the relationship is visually conveyed to the healthcare practitioner; and   enable the healthcare practitioner to accept the medical issue of the patient to initiate an automatic reconciliation process.   
     
     
         10 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the instructions enable the healthcare practitioner to view the linkage information by integrating the linkage information into a user interface to be presented to the healthcare practitioner. 
     
     
         11 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the user interface comprises a first indication of the medical issue and a second indication of the clinical item, and wherein the first indication and the second indication are visually tied together. 
     
     
         12 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 9  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, obtain data associated with the clinical item when the healthcare practitioner accepts the medical issue. 
     
     
         13 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 9  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, transfer a patient status with the linkage information, and wherein the patient status determines whether aspects of the reconciliation process are performed automatically or in response to a user instruction 
     
     
         14 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the clinical item comprises one of a prescription, a procedure, a lab result, and a report associated with the medical issue. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 9  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, receive the linkage information at the second healthcare entity and integrating the linkage information into user interface to be displayed to the healthcare practitioner. 
     
     
         16 . A tangible computer readable medium as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the instructions detect the patient transfer by receiving data from an outpatient administrative system. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for use in a healthcare information system, comprising:
 a retriever to obtain linkage information indicative of a relationship between a clinical item of treatment associated with a patient and a medical issue of the patient in response to an indication of a patient transfer from a first healthcare entity to a second healthcare entity;   a transmitter to transfer the linkage information to the second healthcare entity in response to the detected patient transfer;   a generator to enable a healthcare practitioner associated with the second healthcare entity to view the linkage information such that the relationship is visually conveyed to the healthcare practitioner; and   a selector to enable the healthcare practitioner to accept the medical issue of the patient to initiate an automatic reconciliation process.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the generator enables the healthcare practitioner to view the linkage information by integrating the linkage information into a user interface to be presented to the healthcare practitioner. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the user interface comprises a first indication of the medical issue and a second indication of the clinical item, and wherein the first indication and the second indication are visually tied together. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the user interface comprises an option for the healthcare practitioner to reject reconciliation of the clinical item. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising a communicator to obtain data associated with the clinical item when the healthcare practitioner selects the clinical item 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the clinical item comprises one of a prescription, a procedure, a lab result, and a report associated with the medical issue. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising a receiver to receive the linkage information at the second healthcare entity and integrating the linkage information into user interface to be displayed to the healthcare practitioner.